The best toys for 6 year olds help them figure out the world while still feeling like play, not homework. Six is the age of “I can do it myself,” big projects, and a lot of opinions!
It can be a time where kids might stop being interested in their old toys, and instead want TV, video games, and smart watches.
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So this list is a reflection of the toys that I’ve curated for my 6-year-old that are super cool and engaging for him, and I know they are teaching him life skills in the process.
Everything is sorted into the 11 play categories I use for our toy rotation, so you can build a balanced toybox for your growing child.
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What 6 Year Olds Are Working On
Quick heads up: the CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” milestone checklists stop at 5, so there’s no official 6 year old checklist.
Instead, the CDC’s positive parenting tips for middle childhood (6 to 8 years) describe what’s typical for this stage. Here’s what they highlight, grouped the way I think about it:
Body and movement
- Dresses themselves
- Catches a ball more easily using just their hands
- Ties their shoes
Thinking and talking
- Finds better ways to describe their experiences
- Can talk about their thoughts and feelings
Social and emotional
- Wants to be liked and accepted by friends
- Shows more independence from parents and family
- Focuses more on friendships and working as a team
Put that together and you get a kid who wants to do real things on their own, but also wants to play with (and win against) their friends. Here’s where each piece shows up in play:
| What they’re working on | Where it shows up in play | Jump to |
|---|---|---|
| Catching with hands, coordination, balance | Gross motor | Gross motor |
| Tying shoes, buttons, detailed hand work | Fine motor and art | Fine motor, Art |
| Independence, big solo projects | Building and STEM | Blocks, STEM |
| Friendships, teamwork, rules | Close-ended toys and games | Close-ended |
| Describing experiences and feelings | Pretend play and open-ended | Pretend play, Open-ended |
| Responsibility, caring for something | Nurturing | Nurturing |
| Focus, creativity, self-expression | Art and music | Art, Musical |
Same teacher reminder as always: every kid gets there on their own timeline. Plenty of first graders still can’t tie their shoes. If something is worrying you, ask your pediatrician.
Gross Motor Toys for 6 Year Olds
Catching a ball with just their hands and better coordination overall are part of the 6 to 8 picture. The Ollyball and our trampoline are both in my gross motor guide for small spaces.
Six year olds are also getting big, so the old plastic bat and toddler trampoline might be getting too small or babyish for them. Our gross motor toy guide has more ideas.
Hasbro Twister
Twister brings back a lot of memories. It’s great for gross motor play indoors, and it builds strength, balance, and coordination while everyone is laughing too hard to notice.
Hasbro Twister
This game brings back a lot of memories, and it is great for gross motor play indoors. It encourages kids to work together, and builds strength, balance, and coordination through play.
The Ollyball
The Ollyball is one of the only toys that never rotates out at my house, and it’s perfect for catching practice.
Ollyball Keepy Uppy
I wasn't sure this ball could live up to its claims (an indoor ball that won't damage anything?!), but sure enough, it does what it says. This is one of the few toys that never gets rotated out. Simply because my kids play with it every day, and it's great for indoor exercise.
- Full-Force Indoor Play for Active Fun: Engineered with the patented KrunchCOR bladder, this 12-inch Keepy Uppy ball absorbs impact for safe, energetic indoor play.
- Award-Winning Ollyball Ready to Play Includes the Ollyball Keepy Uppy indoor ball, KrunchCOR bladder, inflation straw, instruction manual, and resealable package, and is recognized with multiple family and toy industry awards.
Nex Playground
I’ve only tried the Nex Playground in a store demo (we already have a gifted Nintendo Switch), but I like that your body is the controller, which makes it much easier for kids than learning a regular game controller. It’s still screen time, though, so it doesn’t replace real independent play.
Nex Playground
Our experience with this is limited to my in-store demo. We have a Nintendo Switch system (gifted to us), so we didn't want to invest in another system. However, this little cube is like the oldschool Wii but without the need for a controller. Because your body is the controller, I can see kids being able to play this much easier than learning to operate a traditional game controller.
- 5 GAMES INCLUDED. UNLOCK MORE WITH PLAY PASS. Playground comes with Fruit Ninja, Starri, Whac-a-Mole, Go Keeper, and Party Fowl. A separate purchase of a 3-Month ($49) or 12-Month Play Pass ($89) is required to access the full catalog of games and get new games each month, including Barbie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, How to Train Your Dragon, Peppa Pig, Care Bears, Elmo, Miraculous Ladybug, Gabby's Dollhouse, Kung Fu Panda and more.
- GET MOVING WITH ACTIVE FAMILY FUN. Nex Playground is a new kind of video game console that gets your family moving. It easily connects to your TV, transforming your living room into an active play space. Within minutes, your family will be playing Fruit Ninja, Whac-a-Mole and more. Using a built-in camera to track motion and natural body movements, anyone in the family can jump right in.
- JUST USE YOUR BODY TO PLAY. Play naturally just by moving your body. Playground uses the magic of AI to follow your movements using the built-in wide-angle camera. No controllers or clunky trackers! Up to 4 players can play at the same time, so everyone can get moving together.
- SAFE FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES. Playground content is safe and appropriate for all ages. No ads. No in-app purchases. No mature content. Playground is also kidSAFE+ COPPA certified and motion tracking data is never stored or processed in the cloud.
Fine Motor Toys for 6 Year Olds
Tying shoes is the big fine motor goal at 6, and it takes a lot of finger strength and control. Beading, weaving, and bracelet making all work those same muscles. More in our fine motor skills toy guide.
Perler Fuse Beads Kit
My oldest loves making perler bead creations, and I did too as a kid. It’s a nostalgic craft, it cleans up easily, and there’s a finished thing to show off at the end. Placing those tiny beads one at a time on the pegboard is serious fine motor work.
Perler Fuse Beads Kit
My oldest loves making perler bead creations (and I did too as a kid!). It's a fun, easy-to-clean-up, nostalgic craft for kids. It does require good dexterity and fine motor skills, so it might be too advanced for a 6 year old.
- Fuse beat set comes with (4,000) assorted Perler fuse bead, (1) plastic storage tray, and (1) Perler fuse bead pattern book; for ages 6 and up, all ironing must be done by an adult
- Set includes the 16 following bead colors: pink, magenta, red, cheddar, neon orange, yellow, light green, kiwi lime, parrot green, light blue, neon blue, plum, purple glitter, light brown, black, and white
- Use the included Perler bead pattern idea book for inspiration, or get creative and make your own awesome fuse bead projects
Bracelet Makers
Beading and weaving are sneaky learning toys for 6 year olds, and they build the same hand control first grade handwriting needs.
The Heishi bracelet kit is officially 7+, and I agree it may be too tricky for a 6 year old to do alone. The setup is complicated, but the beading part is super fun.
Cool Maker Stack'd Heishi Studio Bracelet Making Kit
This might be too tricky for a 6 year old to do independently. The official recommendation is for ages 7+. Setting up the machine is a little complicated, but the beading process is super fun! Kids can use the pen tool to click each bead into place.
- Easy-to-use bead pen: Picking up beads is so easy; push the pen down on top of each bead & watch the custom design stack inside.
- Makes 15 friendship bracelets: Create the ultimate bracelet stack to wear & share.
- Includes: 1 Stack'd Heishi Bracelet Studio, 1 Beading Pen, 1 Wrist Measurement Ruler, 1220 Heishi Beads, 10 Feature Beads, 17 Strings, 16 Clasps (in 2 Parts), 1 Instruction Sheet
Make It Real: Swift Clicks Bracelet Maker
Just click to string beads! My oldest likes to create different bead patterns by counting the clicks of each color. It can be a little tricky to get the string attached, so a grown up may need to help.
- EFFORTLESS BRACELET MAKING: Quickly create 23 bracelets by rotating the bead carousel and clicking to thread beads onto the cord, eliminating manual threading.
- COMPLETE BRACELET CRAFT KIT: Includes everything needed to create bracelets: a bracelet maker base, threading bar, spool of jelly cord, aligning tool, and instructions.
Melissa & Doug On The Go Friendship Bracelet
The book doubles as a workstation which is pretty cool. The knots and process may be too advanced for a 6 year old.
- Craft kit comes with everything to create 10+ friendship bracelets
- Includes 157.5 feet of colorful string, 9.8 feet of metallic string, 6 felt charms, double-sided foam mini loom, 8 beads, and instructions
- Features detailed full-color illustrations and handy tips and suggestions
- Easy to learn, easy to store, and easy to create impressive results
- Easy to learn, easy to store, and easy to create impressive results
- On the Go format makes it perfect for families on the move!
Melissa & Doug Wooden Multi-Craft Weaving Loom
A little space-consuming but can be used to make multiple different projects or just to practice the weaving motion.
Open-Ended Toys for 6 Year Olds
Open-ended toys are where kids practice describing what they are feeling, what they see around them, and their take on life. We have a full guide to open-ended toys that last.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Kids Fort Building Kit
We have built forts, rockets, cars, caves, houses… You name it. These versatile sticks have also turned my kiddos into helicopters, fire fighters, and magicians with wands.
- BUILD THE COOLEST FORTS EVER – With 135 pieces, kids can build forts that are nothing less than epic! This fort building kit makes it easy to build an indoor fort with endless configurations. It's perfect for creative building and play!
- DURABLE, PREMIUM-QUALITY COMPONENTS – Sturdy poles in two different lengths work with the Flex-Tech hubs to create a number of dynamic structures, with 6 included clips that make it easy to cover the fort with a sheet or blanket (not included).
- HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL TOYS – We're proud to make the highest quality hands-on science toys, and all our products are backed by exceptional service. If your experience is less than stellar, let us know and we'll make things right!
Educational Insights Design & Drill Marble Maze
We can never decide, what's more fun? Building the maze with the working drills and screws? Or seeing if the marbles make it through the track?!
- Working drill and screws to assemble the mazes
- Guide book with example mazes (close-ended play), or make your own design (open-ended)
- Drill has forward and reverse motions
National Geographic Motorized Marble Run
We love marble runs and have bought all kinds. This one is particularly fun with the motorized marble eleveator to create an infinite loop.
- MOTORIZED LIFT FOR ENDLESS RUNS – Features a motorized lift that carries your marbles up almost 20 inches and drop them onto the track! Create a perpetual motion machine that continuously takes your marbles back to the top to launch again!
- COMPATIBLE WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MARBLE RUNS – Expand any National Geographic Glow-in-the-Dark Marble Run with this kit! All pieces, including the spiral lift, work seamlessly with existing sets (non-magnetic), so you can create even bigger runs!
- LEARN WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC – With National Geographic STEM toys, learning is always part of the fun! The included Learning Guide contains fascinating facts about physics, motion, and more! It also contains tips for building amazing marble runs!
Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Mashines in Motion
We've built a lot of simple machines with our Learning Resources gear sets over the years.
- BUILDS EARLY ENGINEERING SKILLS: Hands-on building play helps kids explore STEM concepts as they design and build moving machines using colorful interlocking gears
- SUPPORTS CREATIVE MACHINE PLAY: Kids can build and rebuild different machines that spin and turn, encouraging creative problem solving and open-ended construction play
- DESIGNED FOR KIDS AGES 5+: Made for kids five year old and up with durable, easy-to-connect gear pieces that support confident building and early learning
- STRENGTHENS MOTOR & THINKING SKILLS: Connecting, turning, and aligning gears helps build fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, and cause-and-effect understanding
Close-Ended Toys and Games for 6 Year Olds
Rules, teamwork, and wanting to fit in with friends all come together at 6, which makes games an important part of play. UNO, Jenga, and the co-op games that got my boys through losing are all in my board games guide.
Games and puzzles are close-ended toys because they have rules, and are to be played with a specific way. My close-ended toys guide has more of our favorite games and why they matter.
Mattel Games UNO
UNO Might be too advanced for some 6 year olds, but we play at my house. UNO is not only amazing for color and number recognition, but also for close-ended concepts like rule-following, turn-taking, and winning or losing.
- UNO card game provides classic play, where players match colors or numbers in a race to get rid of all their cards!
- The color blind accessible deck has special graphic symbols on each card to help identify its color, allowing players with any form of color blindness to play!
Hasbro Gaming Jenga
A classic fine-motor game that teaches about close ended play like following rules, turn-taking, and winning and losing.
Lite Brite Classic
What is more nostalgic than a Lite Brite?! My kids love to create their own scenes (open-ended) as well as follow the patterns (close-ended).
- This set includes 206 glowing pegs in 6 different colors to light up your imagination and inspire creativity!
- 6 Design Templates: There are 6 easy-to-follow templates included, such as a boat, a unicorn, and more!
- Use the templates or design your own art – thereu2019s no end to the fun.
- 4 Different Light Modes.
- STEAM Toy: The Lite-Brite Classic inspires creativity and helps children develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
PAW Patrol Guess Who?
Blocks and Building Toys for 6 Year Olds
By 6, a lot of kids can follow real instruction booklets on their own, which is a huge independence win. Our building toys guide breaks down the types. See more sets in our LEGO guide.
LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Space Shuttle Toys
We love the 3-in-1 LEGO line because you can follow three different builds (close-ended), or use the pieces to create your own build.
- LEGO Creator 3 in 1 space toy building set features a space shuttle which rebuilds into an astronaut figure with jointed limbs or a spaceship toy
- With this LEGO Creator 3 in 1 set, kids get 3 different build and play experiences; makes an out of this world gift for kids ages 6+ years old
LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Magical Unicorn
We love the 3-in-1 LEGO line because you can follow three different builds (close-ended), or use the pieces to create your own build.
- The LEGO unicorn animal toy features a golden horn, colorful tail and mane plus it can be posed on its 4 legs or reared up on its 2 hind legs
- The unicorn can be rebuilt into 2 other LEGO animals; a seahorse with movable tail, fins and head, or a peacock toy with movable tail and eyes
K'NEX – Click & Construct Value Building Set
K'Nex are a fun take on blocks. My 6 year old has no problem creating with them; however, the closures can be tricky so it may be too advanced for some.
- Create pre-made designs following instructions (close-ended)
- Create your own designs (open-ended)
Clixo Itsy Pack
This is a new toy that we've had limited experience playing with (we're already invested heavily in Duplo, LEGO, K'Nex, and MagnaTiles). But has a super-cool premise: build three-dimensional shapes using magnetic discs.
- SPARK IMAGINATION & CREATIVITY: Flexible shapes and secure magnetic connections, kids can click, snap, fold, and flex their way to endless creative builds.
- BUILD MORE WITH LESS
- PORTABLE & TRAVEL-FRIENDLY
- FUN LEARNING THROUGH STEAM: Introducing core STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) concepts, Clixo fosters fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving through open-ended play.
Musical and Multimedia Toys for 6 Year Olds
Music gives 6 year olds another way to express how they feel, which fits right in with the “talks about thoughts and feelings” part of this age.
Our Yoto players are still part of our daily routine (I cover them in my Yoto review), and we have a whole collection of Dollar Tree instruments. More in our musical toys guide.
Hape Kid's Wooden Ukulele
This ukelele is made from wood and has a nice accoustic sound. It's a bit tricky for kids to get the idea of chords before the age of 6, but they still like to strum and pretend to be rockstars!
- SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: Develops coordination, motor skills and auditory and creative skills
- ENCOURAGES MUSICALITY: Teaches young kids about basic rhythm, strumming, and other musical techniques
- FULLY FUNCTIONAL: Sturdy and perfectly sized for young hands yet fully playable and tunable
Yamaha Recorder
As soon as your little one can blow air, they can play a recorder! Granted… it won't sound great 😂 But they are a fun way to experiment with wind instruments. We found ours at the Dollar Tree, but Yamaha is a brand that I trust.
- Excellent tuning and sound quality
- Made from durable and safe ABS plastic resin with no BPA
- Great for beginners
Yoto Mini
I could go on and on about how much we love Yoto players at my house, and I do in my full Yoto review! These are a part of our daily routine, and come with us wherever we go.
- SMALL SPEAKER FOR BIG ADVENTURES: Yoto Mini lets kids explore their imaginations as they explore the world. Fill road trips, car rides, flights, long journeys & play dates with inspiring audio!
- EASY TO SET UP & USE: Children from 3-12+ use physical cards to explore the best audio content on the move. Simply pop an audio card into the Mini to play & remove to stop. Adjust volume or tracks with the dials. Alternatively, control the Mini via the free app!
- KID-FRIENDLY WITH PARENTAL CONTROL: Enjoy up to 14 hours of safe & screen-free entertainment per charge. No cameras. No mics. No ads.
- MULTI-PURPOSE: Features a pixel display to bring the audio to life, play sleep sounds, use as bedtime storyteller, an OK-to-wake clock, a portable audio speaker or use with headphones!
- CONTENT THAT GROWS WITH KIDS' MINDS: Explore 1000+ cards of bestselling audiobooks, music, educational activities, free podcasts, radio, soundscapes, timers or even create content with a Make Your Own card!
Yoto The Magic Treehouse Collection – 8 Kids Audio Cards, Ages 6+
Art Supplies for 6 Year Olds
At our house, my oldest’s quiet time space is more craft store than toy room: popsicle sticks, tape, boxes, and paper towel rolls. Our markers and paints are all Crayola because they actually wash out. Our art supplies guide has everything sorted by mess level.
Spirograph Deluxe Set
If this is too tricky for your little one, the Spirograph Jr. kit is awesome! My oldest got the hang of this pretty quickly though and makes super cool drawings.
- FUN, STEAM ACTIVITY u2013 Spirograph uses a perfect combination of art and mathematics to create beautiful designs!
- RELEASE YOUR CREATIVITY u2013 Make designs of all sorts in any color now that Spirograph gears work with most standard pens, markers, and pencils!
- COMPACT DESIGN u2013 Durable carrying case makes it easy to store when finished or take with you for fun on the go!
Ohuhu Adult Coloring Book Markers
We bought this set for my 6-year old and they are amazing. They color very smoothly with very little streaks. He feels like he's got grown-up markers. Win-win!
- PAPER-FRIENDLY NO PEELING WATER-BASED INK: These color markers feature Ohuhuu2019s upgraded water-based ink, designed to be paper-friendly(no peeling).
- BRUSH & FINELINER, DOUBLE-TIP, DOUBLE THE FUN: Master every bit of your creative stroke!
- NON-TOXIC & ACID-FREE: The highly-pigmented acid-free allows your artwork to last against fading. It's also a huge plus that the ink is non-toxic and conforms with ASTM D-4236, safe for both you and your kids.
Staedtler FIMO Polymer Clay Set
Polymer clay is perfect for older artists who want to create with more detail and precision than air dry clay.
- CLAY SET FOR BEGINNERS: Sculpting clay for all skill levels!
- FIMO Soft is a non-toxic clay that is infinitely versatile for endless art and crafts.
- This complete clay set features 12 easy to open, half blocks, a permanent marker and a sculpting tool.
- FIMO Soft does not air dry, oven hardening is required.
Skillmatics Iron-Its Transfer Kit
Because you need to iron, and these transfers are permanent, close supervision and adult assistance is required.
Sensory Toys for 6 Year Olds
Big kids still need sensory play, especially to decompress after school. Some kids love the squish and some don’t, and that’s okay. Our sensory toys guide has options for both.
Elmer's Fruity Fusion Slime Kit
We love slime (in contained environments) and have even made a few batches of our own. Slime definitely needs adult supervision as the ratios can be difficult to master (read: if you add too much it's going to make a big mess).
- All-inclusive slime kit lets you create custom, fruit-inspired slime
- Includes Elmer's Clear Glue and Magical Liquid Slime Activator to create slime base
- Slime supplies include everything you need: clay color pigments, scent add-ins, mix-ins, mixing bowl, and a spoon!
- Safe, washable, and nontoxic, a great activity for kids!
Kinetic Sand Dig N' Demolish
This is so fun to mold and stack bricks (yes they actually stay bricks!) and then demolish them!
- 2-in-1 truck & mold: Scoop & crush with the trucku2019s detachable Kinetic Sand tools. Mold bricks & crush them with the jackhammer tool, then clip the scooper onto the front loader & clean up your site
- Enclosed play space: Open the box to reveal a play space for the setu2019s 1lb of brown Kinetic Sand for kids. When youu2019re finished playing, pack everything back into the box for easy clean up & storage
- One & Only Kinetic Sand: Feel the difference with Kinetic Sand, the original moldable & mesmerizing magic sand. Kinetic Sandu2019s unique formula makes it stick together so it easily shapes & molds
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Pretend Play Toys for 6 Year Olds
Pretend play doesn’t disappear at 6. It gets more realistic, and it’s a big part of how kids work out friendships and describe what they’ve seen. Six year olds want tools that look and work like the real thing. More ideas in our pretend play guide.
John Deere 18 Pice Deluxe Tool Box
As my kids got older they wanted more realistic toolboxes, but we weren't ready for actual tools. This kit comes with a ruler, level, square, and tape measure!
- 18 PIECE PLAY SET: Includes 18 realistic tools and accessories with a working tape measure, perfectly sized for small hands to enjoy imaginative play.
- TOOL BOX WITH SNAP LATCHES: Durable tool box with easy to carry handle and two locking snaps, makes for easy storage and on-the-go play.
- PRETEND PLAY: Use plastic versions of real life tools to make pretend home improvements. Build hand/eye coordination and a strong understanding of what each tool is used for.
- SAFE AND DURABLE: Designed with safety in mind, the toy tool box is made of high-quality, durable materials for indoor and outdoor play.
Liberry Doctor Kit
I chose this doctor costume because it comes with a real working stethoscope, which was a game-changer in our doctor setup! This compliments the Melissa & Doug doctors kit well.
- Realistic Doctor Dress Up: Liberry doctor costume set includes a durable white medical lab coat, a fully functional stethoscope, and an official-looking ID card. It perfectly ignites children's imagination and inspires future medical professionals.
- Durable Materials: Liberry doctor's outfits are made from soft and durable fabric, ensuring children's comfort during extended play. The material is soft to touch yet durable enough for daily wear and tear, making it ideal for playtime.
Playmobil is the more grown-up version of Fisher-Price Little People sets. They have just about every interest you can think of, and kids can continue pretend play and acting out with even more choices, accessories, and settings.
Playmobil Puppy Care Center
We love that Playmobil offers so many different types of sets. There is something for every interest from animals and dinosaurs to dragons and knights.
- PLAY FUN FOR CHILDREN 4 YEARS OLD AND UP: Ideal for children's hands thanks to its age-appropriate size and safe rounded edges. Encourages your child's imagination.
- CONTENTS: Set includes one figure, eight puppies, puppy beds, wash station, leash, grooming tools, and other accessories.
- THE ORIGINAL: PLAYMOBIL has been inspiring children and adults since 1974. High-quality and durable materials ensure your child will be playing with their PLAYMOBIL for many years to come.
Playmobil Camping with Kayaks
Playmobil Pirate Ship
- Set sail, experience adventure: Join the brave pirate and the fearless pirate queen on their pirate ship that floats. Together, they set sail to attack enemy vessels and discover legendary treasures
- Exciting accessories: Use the rotating cannons to fire projectiles, and explore lost treasures with the treasure map and compass. Attach the pirate flag to your ship to proudly announce victory over the high seas
- Contents: 101 pieces with instructions: 2 figures, 1 animal, 98 additional accessories; materials made from plastic; LxWxH: approx. 15 x 7.9 x 11.8 inches, 71418
Playmobil Take Along Dollhouse
- FUN ON THE GO: Enjoy playtime on the road with the PLAYMOBIL Take Along Dollhouse.
- CONVENIENT FOR TRAVELING OR TO PLAY AT HOME: Take-along case with latch opens up to reveal a spacious two-story dollhouse
- TWO STORIES OF ROOMS: Four fully-furnished rooms include kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom
- CONTENTS: Includes two adult figures, one child figure, dog, television, television stand, highchair, and many other accessories
Playmobil Country Farmhouse
- CONTENTS: farmer, farmeru2019s wife, child, goat, kid, cat, mice, birds, farmhouse with balcony and terrace, sink, stove, double bed, childu2019s bed, dining table, chairs, stool, wheelbarrow, shovel, flowering bushes, toaster, birds nest, sticker sheet, plus lots of other great accessories.
- THE ORIGINAL: PLAYMOBIL has been inspiring children and adults since 1974. High-quality and durable materials ensure your child will be playing with their PLAYMOBIL for many years to come
Playmobil Dinos: Research Camp with Dinos
- Comprehensive research equipment for little explorers: Included are two brave researchers, a Stegosaurus, a Deinonychus, and everything you need for your expedition: microscope, laptop, walkie-talkies, camera, and much more!
- The PLAYMOBIL Dinosaur World invites children aged four and up to dive into exciting role-playing adventures and experience the fascination of these giant reptiles at home. Includes a knowledge card with fascinating dinosaur facts.
- All PLAYMOBIL Dino World sets are made of over 80% recycled and bio-based materials.
- Contents: 93 pieces with instructions: 2 figures, 4 animals, 87 additional accessories; materials made from plastic; LxWxH: Base plate with tree and tarp: approx. 6.8 x 5.1 x 6.7 in; Terrain vehicle: approx. 6.8 x 3.9 x 3.7 in, 71523
Nurturing Toys for 6 Year Olds
More independence means more responsibility. Six is a great age to give kids something small that depends on them, and it builds the empathy they need for friendships too. I wrote a whole guide to nurturing toys if you want more.
Tamagotchi Original
A Tamagotchi might be too advanced for a 6 year old. But mine (even my 4 year old) got the hang of it after a few training sessions. They love "flushing the toilet," "feeding," and "hugging," their Tamagotchi.
- The Original Tamagotchi digital pet you loved in 1997 is back! Feed it, turn lights on/off, play with it, give it medicine, flush after its used the bathroom, check itu2019s health and discipline your Tamagotchi if he bothers you when heu2019s happy, fed and all cleaned up.
- Raise your Tamagotchi from egg to child to adult and how you take care of it will decide which of the 7 Adults youu2019ll get.
Sea-Monkeys Ocean Zoo
If your child is begging for a pet, but you're not ready for the comittment. Give them something small to care for like Sea Monkeys. This also gives them responsability and teaches them to care consistently for others.
Creative Kids Miracle GRO Root Viewer Garden Kit
Teach your kids responsability with caring for plants from seeds to seedlings. Plus they can learn about root system with this root viewer.
- Let Creativity Bloom: Personalize and Decorate your indoor garden with the stickers & measuring worm provided to add that special touch.
- Help Kids Grow: Improve fine motor skills, gain a sense of responsibility & take pride in what you can accomplish. It is perfect science project that will teach planting and growing vegetables.
STEM Toys for 6 Year Olds (Bonus)
Six is when STEM toys start to feel like real science: circuits, experiments, and figuring out why something didn’t work. More in our STEM toys guide. STEM toys for 6 year olds can finally include real circuits and experiments, as long as you’re nearby.
Snap Circuits STEM Electronics Kit
These kits might be a little advanced for a 6 year old, and definitely need supervision (the circuits use electricity). But my oldest looooooves experimenting with circuit building. We have several Snap Circuit kits.
The Circuit Explorer sets are from Educational Insights, and they get oohs and aahs from every kid who visits.
Educational Insights Circuit Explorer
When kids come to my house to play, this is the toy they want to play with!
- SIMPLE CIRCUITS, BIG IMAGINATION! Learn the fundamentals of circuitry, off the board and out of this world!
- STEM ACTIVITIES – MAKE THE CONNECTION: System-ready pieces light up when kids follow the symbols and connect the vehicle's circuits
- BLAST OFF INTO STEM LEARNING: Keep them connecting on their own with safe circuits kids can build themselves
- EVERYTHING YOU NEED to build a Deluxe Base Station with Towers, Spinning Diner Sign, Planetarium with color-changing dome light, Voice Synthesizer Station with 10 space sounds, Communication Station with rotating Radar Dish, a Powered Space Rover and a freewheeling Space Rover both with light-up headlights; Base, Dome Light, Voice Synthesizer, Communication Station, and Space Rovers require 3 AAA batteries each, not included.
Educational Insights Circuit Explorer Rocket
- SIMPLE CIRCUITS, BIG IMAGINATION! Learn the fundamentals of circuitry, off the board and out of this world. System-ready pieces light up when kids follow the symbols and connect the spaceship's circuits
- BLAST OFF INTO STEM LEARNING: Keep them connecting on their own with safe circuits kids can build themselves. Everything you need to build a rocket with light-up nose cone and rocket nozzles, Space Rover with light-up headlights, and Landing Pad with colored-changing lights. Also includes astronaut and robot figures for pretend play. and stickers for customization. Rocket, Landing Pad, and Rover require 3 AAA batteries each, not included
Educational Insights Circuit Explorer Rover
- SIMPLE CIRCUITS, BIG IMAGINATION! Learn the fundamentals of circuitry, off the board and out of this world! System-ready pieces light up when kids follow the symbols and connect the vehicle's circuits
- BLAST OFF INTO STEM LEARNING: Keep them connecting on their own with safe circuits kids can build themselves
- COLLECT THEM ALL! Collect multiple Circuit Explorer sets to build your system with interchangeable pieces and power sources.
Learning Resources Botley 2.0 The Coding Robot
- EASY REMOTE-CONTROLLED LEARNING PLAY: This friendly robot for kids uses a simple remote to introduce early coding ideas through playful cause-and-effect actions, building confidence and curiosity for young future coders at home or in the classroom.
- CODING ROBOTICS KIT: Open the box and jump into hands-on building as kids use the included coding cards to design command sequences for their robot, strengthening planning, logic, and sequencing skills that grow with every new challenge they create.
- MULTIPLE NEW CHALLENGES: As kids advance, this robot adds depth to their play with multi-step coding paths, 45u00b0 turns, and object-sensing reactions that encourage them to design longer routes, refine strategies, and tackle more complex problem-solving.
- MULTISENSORY FUN: Lights, sounds, and playful music give this kids robot a lot of coding options! The 16 secret code combinations offer open-ended play for curious young creators.
Learning Resources Coding Critters MagiCoders
- SCREEN-FREE CODING PLAY: Kids use the magic wand and spell book to program Blazer through hands-on sequencing challenges that introduce early robotics concepts without a screen
- MADE FOR BEGINNERS AGES 4+: Built for early learners, this educational toy helps beginners explore programming basics through simple wand controls and guided play
- BUILDS LOGIC & PROBLEM SOLVING: Kids strengthen logic, sequencing, and problem solving as they plan routes, test commands, and troubleshoot to complete dragon-themed challenges
Discovery Big Creepy Science Lab
These science kits do come with harsh components to make the reactions. This should be done with close adult supervision. These kits might be too advanced, even for a 6 year old. But my oldest has been able to do a lot of the projects with help.
- u2714 65 GROSS & CREEPY EXPERIMENTS u2013 Explore the science behind the seriously disgusting! From slimy intestines and fake blood to boogers and erupting noses, this educational kit includes 25 guided experiments + 40 bonus DIYs at home.
- u2714 CREEPY & GROSS LEARNING FUN u2013 Make glow-in-the-dark centipedes, vomit slime, boogers, fake blood, erupting noses, and bubbling swamps while learning real STEM principles behind the gross-out fun.
- u2714 DISCOVER CHEMISTRY & PHYSICS u2013 Each revolting experiment teaches a real scientific principle like pH changes, states of matter, acid-base reactions, or light refraction. Itu2019s smart disguised as silly!
National Geographic Microscope
Our local library has microscopes for kids. It's fun for them to look at ordinary items like a tissue or pencil shavings.
- FASCINATING SPECIMENS – Kids get 6 prepared plant slides in this microscope kit, along with 6 rocks and minerals, and 6 blank slides to prepare at home! They'll be entertained for hours as they explore the microscopic world with this STEM lab kit!
- A COMPLETE SCIENCE EXPERIMENT KIT – With a pipette, specimen dish, tweezers, and easy-to-follow instructions, kids will be able to conduct tons of science experiments, investigating the world around them just like real scientists!
Shopping for a younger sibling? Check out our picks for 5 year olds and 4 year olds. Twister and Jenga fans can find more classics in our Hasbro games guide, and every list we have lives on our toy guides page.
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Get StartedFAQ
At our house it’s crafts, bead kits, circuits, LEGO builds, and card games like UNO. Most 6 year olds want toys that feel real and let them finish something on their own. Pretend play and active games still matter too.
No. The toys just change. Six year olds move toward bigger projects, games with friends, and real tools and supplies. If your kid seems bored, try a craft kit, a card game, or a circuit set instead of more of the same.
Watch for tiny parts, small closures, or steps that need adult help (ironing, electricity, chemicals). Perler beads, Snap Circuits, and science kits worked for my oldest with help. If frustration takes over, put it away for a few months and try again.
No. The CDC’s milestone checklists stop at 5. For 6 to 8, the CDC’s positive parenting tips describe typical development, like dressing themselves, tying shoes, catching a ball with their hands, and caring more about friendships and teamwork.
It can still help, even if it looks different. My oldest only has evening quiet time on school days, and we’re shortening the weekend block because two hours started to feel too long for him. Read more about quiet time at my house.
A project they can finish on their own (a bead kit or a LEGO set), a game with real rules, or a science kit with you as the helper.
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